In today’s digital world, recruitment scams are becoming more common. Scammers often pretend to be legitimate recruiters or companies to deceive job seekers into sharing personal information or even sending money. While these scams are on the rise, knowing how to identify and avoid them can keep you safe. At TPD, we want to help job seekers and candidates recognize the warning signs and stay protected.

Types of Recruitment Scams

1. False Advertisements: Scammers will often create fake job ads to solicit applications. These ads might appear on job boards or social media platforms, enticing job seekers with high-paying positions or fast hiring processes.
2. Fake Recruiters Reaching Out: Impersonators pretending to be recruiters from real companies will reach out to candidates through email, text, or social media. They may claim to offer job interviews or immediate employment opportunities.

Why Do These Scams Exist?

The primary goal of these scams is to:

• Steal Your Money: Scammers will often ask for payments under the guise of pre-employment screenings, training, or job placement fees.
• Steal Your Identity: By gathering personal details like your Social Insurance Number (SIN), birth date, or banking information, they can commit fraud, open accounts, or obtain credit in your name.

How to Identify Recruitment Scams

Here are some red flags to watch for when job hunting:

1. Suspicious Email Domains: Legitimate recruiters will communicate from official company email addresses. Be cautious of messages from free domains like Google, Outlook, or Yahoo, especially if they claim to represent a reputable company. Always check if the email domain matches the company’s website. All TPD recruiters and hiring managers will only reach out to you using their TPD work email which should look like: example@tpd.com.
2. Requests for Payment: No legitimate employer will ask you to pay for pre-employment screening, training, or any other job-related fees upfront. If someone requests money during the recruitment process, it’s likely a scam. At TPD, we offer our services for free to job seekers so no one from our team will reach out to you requested any kind of payment. 
3. Requests for Sensitive Personal Information: Never provide personal details like your SIN number, birth date, or bank account information before receiving a formal job offer. Scammers may ask for this information too early in the process to commit identity theft.

What to Do If You Encounter a Recruitment Scam

If you suspect that someone is impersonating a legitimate company or recruiter, here’s what you can do:

1. Stop Interacting: If you suspect someone is impersonating a legitimate company or recruiter, stop all communication immediately. Do not send any information or click any links.
2. Report the Scam to the Company: If a scammer is pretending to be from a specific company, report it to the company directly so they can take action. Most businesses will have a procedure for handling these types of situations. If you suspect any fraud or scam, please email us immediately at info@tpd.com.
3. Report to the Authorities:
   If you’re in Canada, report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. You can file a report through their website: Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
   If you’re in the US, report fraud through the FTC’s website: ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Protecting Yourself Moving Forward

While recruitment scams are a growing concern, knowing the warning signs and taking precautions can help protect your information and ensure a smooth job search process.

At TPD, we prioritize transparency and safety in all our recruitment efforts, so if you ever have questions about the legitimacy of a job offer or recruiter, feel free to contact us directly by emailing us at info@tpd.com.